EDWARD VIII—DUKE OF WINDSOR

offers so many chances of making a fool of one's self.
For that reason he prefers to play a round with his
intimate friends, and with men rather than women.

In the members' house of the Royal and Ancient
Golf Club at St. Andrews there hangs a painting of the
Duke (as Prince of Wales) carrying out the awful job
of playing himself in as Captain. "Awful job" was his
own description of the ordeal to old Andrew Kircaldy
when they came out, Andrew as caddy, to face the
crowd. Never was a first drive so imprinted upon a
golfer's memory as that was upon the Prince's. The
most hardened professional would have been forgiven
for a little shakiness in performing that solemn ritual
and with the dignity of that ancient Club at stake.
Andrew, tactful and sympathetic, advised the Prince to
pay no attention to the crowd. Counsel of perfection 1
As well tell an outfielder in a Test Match, waiting for a
skyer, to ignore the breathless multitude 1 Relief came
at length, however, no less to Andrew than to the
playing-in Captain. The drive was good enough to get
a round of cheering from the crowd. Incidentally, it
was approached with more deliberation than the Duke
shows on less austere occasions. His casual preparation
for a drive leaves him open to the criticism of those to
whom golf is a religion. Salvation he can never know,
in their sense of the word, until he gives more reverent
heed to the articles of faith by which the initial act is
hedged round about. That was made clear enough by
the septuagenarian, Bob Lake, after a game with the
Duke (when he was Prince of Wales) at the Royal West
Norfolk Club. Lake, after winning the game on the
last green, was, of course, expected to narrate the epic
feat to an inquisitive gathering of friends; and when
the tale was told, there were still many questions to be
asked and answered, and most important of all: "What
sort of a player is he, Bob ?" To that Bob Lake, according
to report, replied: "The Prince is a rare good golfer,
but he needs a bit more practice. He has a fine long